How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Funkerman, Psycho Radio, Robert Parker, Pussy 2000, Spektrum, Mr. Scruff, Was [Not Was], Stylophonic, Seelenluft, Slick Rick, Gorillaz, Nina Simone
They are the performers of twelve (animated only) music videos that reached the charts from the eighties to the noughties.
1. Which chart position did ‘Speed Up’ by Funkerman reach on the UK Official Singles Chart?
- A 30
- B 55
- C 75
2. What distinctive genre combination characterizes ‘In The Underground’ by Psycho Radio?
- A New wave, funk, and electro
- B Jazz, soul, and rock
- C Blues, country, and house
3. Who is credited as the songwriter for ‘Barefootin” by Robert Parker?
- A Robert Parker
- B Wardell Quezergue
- C Bo/Bocage
4. What was the primary feedback on Pussy 2000’s ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ as captured on Reddit?
- A It was the best dance record of 2001
- B It improved Sterling Void’s ‘It’s Alright’ significantly
- C It featured the most unique synth hooks of the year
5. Which animation technology was used in the promo video for Spektrum’s ‘Kinda New’ remix?
- A Blender
- B Maya
- C 3ds Max
6. Which track by Mr. Scruff features extensive sampling, including ‘Bird’s Lament’ by Moondog?
- A “Get A Move On!”
- B “Fish”
- C “Spandex Man”
7. What genre fusion is Was [Not Was] known for in ‘Robot Girl’ ?
- A Jazz and classical
- B Pop, rock, and funk
- C Reggae and hip-hop
8. Which alter ego of Shock G features on Stylophonic’s ‘Way Of Life’ ?
- A Humpty Hump
- B Snoop Doggy
- C MC Humpee
9. Who provided vocals for Seelenluft’s track ‘Manila’ ?
- A Michael Smith
- B Beat Solèr
- C Beat Andrus
10. What was unique about Slick Rick’s recording of ‘Behind Bars’ ?
- A It was recorded in a rainforest
- B It was recorded while incarcerated
- C It was recorded during a live concert
11. Which animated characters were introduced in the music video for Gorillaz’s ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’ ?
- A Virtual penguins
- B Band’s animated characters
- C Cartoon frogs
12. What impact did Nina Simone’s ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ experience in 1987?
- A Release as a new single
- B Major resurgence due to an advert
- C Collaboration with a new artist
Tracklist
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1 . Funkerman – Speed Up
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2 . Psycho Radio – In The Underground
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3 . Robert Parker – Barefootin’Featured on the 1966 album “Barefootin'”.
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4 . Pussy 2000 – It’s Gonna Be Alright
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5 . Spektrum – Kinda NewFeatured on the 2003 album “Enter the Spektrum”.
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6 . Mr. Scruff – Get A Move On!Featured on the 1999 album “Keep It Unreal”.
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7 . Was [Not Was] – Robot GirlFeatured on the 1988 album “What Up, Dog? “.
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8 . Stylophonic – Way Of Life (w/ Shock-G & Humpty Hump)Featured on the 2001 album “Man, Music, Technology”.
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9 . Seelenluft – ManilaFeatured on the 2002 album “Out of the Woods”.
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10 . Slick Rick – Behind BarsFeatured on the 1994 album “Behind Bars”.
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11 . Gorillaz – Tomorrow Comes TodayFeatured on the 2000 album “Gorillaz“. |
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12 . Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For MeFeatured on the 1958 album “Little Girl Blue“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. ‘Speed Up’ reached number 55 on the UK Official Singles Chart in 2008. It had a brief yet significant run, influencing club playlists during its peak.
2. ‘In The Underground’ is marked by its quirky fusion of new wave, funk, and electro genres, creating a retro-modern soundscape.
3. Robert Parker was the songwriter for ‘Barefootin” , leaving an indelible mark on the rhythm and blues genre with his infectious hit.
4. Pussy 2000’s track was humorously noted for making Sterling Void’s original seem vastly improved according to some music enthusiasts on Reddit.
5. The promo video for ‘Kinda New’ featured animation created in Maya, blending futuristic visuals with dynamic live action.
6. Mr. Scruff’s ‘Get A Move On!’ is reputed for its rich tapestry of samples, with ‘Bird’s Lament’ serving as a key element.
7. Was [Not Was] creatively fuses pop, rock, and funk in ‘Robot Girl’ , showcasing their eclectic musical style and broad influence.
8. ‘Way Of Life’ features Humpty Hump, an alter ego of Shock G, adding a touch of humor and charisma to the track.
9. Seelenluft’s ‘Manila’ features the unique vocals of Michael Smith, a young talent whose voice stands out on the track.
10. Slick Rick’s ‘Behind Bars’ was notably recorded while he was incarcerated, adding authenticity to its introspective lyrics.
11. The video for ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’ introduced Gorillaz’s animated band members, setting the tone for their visual identity.
12. In 1987, Nina Simone’s rendition saw a surge in popularity after being featured in an advertisement, revitalizing her earlier recording.